Adjustable cap for structural columns



Jan. 5, 1954 STARCEVICH 2,664,977

ADJUSTABLE CAP FOR STRUCTURAL COLUMNS Filed July 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheetl Fig. 3

HUM. A

M I .4/ I

George Starcew'c/r I N V EN TOR.

1954 G. STARCEVICH ADJUSTABLE CAP FOR STRUCTURAL COLUMNS Filed July 28,1952 Fig, 5

Fig. 7

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIM I lax Wm George .Slarcevich INVENTOR.

A Mann Patented Jan. 5, 1954 OFFICE ADJUSTABLE CAP FOR STRUCTURALCOLUMNS George Starcevich, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 28, 1952, Serial No. 301,261 6 Claims. (cuss-42) Thepresent invention relates to new and useful improvements in caps forstructural columns and more particularly to an adjustable cap to subjecta supported structure to a jacking action after the column has beenplaced in position.

An important object of the invention is to provide a U-bolt placed in astraddling inverted position on the upper edge of a steel or iron columnand a cap supported by the U-bolt in a position whereby the tighteningof nuts on the lower ends of the U-bolt will gradually raise the capagainst the underside of a floor sill to eliminate sag in the floor andwithout danger of damage to the sill or floor, such as frequentlyhappens when extreme and sudden jacking force is subjected thereto.

Another object is to adapt the adjustable cap to either I-beam tubularor other types of columns and wherein the cap may be placed either ontop of or under the column.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple andpractical construction, which is strong and durable, relativelyinexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposesfor which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on t a line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 4--4 of Figure2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the cap used with a tubularcolumn.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line 1-1 of Figure 6and Figure 8 is a, transverse sectional view taken on a line 8--8 ofFigure 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and first with respect to theconstruction illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral 5represents an I-beam column having a notch 6 in the upper edge of itsweb I to receive an inverted U-bolt 8 which straddles the web. A cap 9of substantially square shape is sleeved over the top of the column andis formed at its bottom with inwardly projecting horizontal flanges I0having openings II to receive the lower ends of the U-boltto projectbelow the cap. Nuts I2 are threaded on the lower ends of the U-bolt totighten against the underside of the cap.

The top of the cap is closed by a plate I3 which is welded or otherwisesecured to the cap and projects outwardly at least at two sides of thecap to form attaching flanges I4 havingiopenings I5 therein to receivefasteners (not shown) for attachingto a floor sill or other structure tobe supported by the column.

Vertical webs I6 are'welded to the flanges I0 and top plate [3 to bracethe former.

The cap 9 is held in position on the column, while the column is beingerected or otherwise handled, by a set screw I 1 which may be removedafter the column is in position.

In Figures 5 to 8 inclusive the cap 9 is shown mounted on a, tubularcolumn I8 by means of an adaptor plate I9 which is welded in a verticalposition inside the top of the column to project above the column. TheU-bolt 8 of the cap straddles the plate I9 and is seated in a notch 20in the upper edge of the plate.

In either form of the invention, the U-bolt 8 is assembled in the cap 9and the cap is then placed over the end of the column to rest the U-boltin the notch 6 of the I-beam column 5 or in the notch 20 of adaptorplate I9 of tubular column I8. When the cap is placed on top of thecolumn the tightening of the nuts I2 will raise the cap against theunderside of a floor sill or other structure to be supported in ajacking action.

A similar result is obtained by placing the cap at the bottom of thecolumn.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A moredetailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination, a structural column having a vertical web, a U-boltplaced in straddling position with respect to the web, a hollow bodyenclosing the U-bolt and also enclosing the web,

said body having a wall at its inner end and through which the ends ofthe U-bolt project,

and nuts threaded on the outer ends of the U- bolt and bearing againstsaid wall of the body to adjust the body endwise with respect to thecolumn.

2. In combination, a structural column having a vertical web, a U-boltplaced in straddling position with ieisfieet to the'web, a-ho'llo'w bodyenclosing theU-bolt and also'enclosing' the web, a pair of opposedflanges at the inner end of the body and through which the ends of theU-bblt project, internal braces in the body ion the flanges, and nutsthreaded on the outer ends of adjustable hollow body mounted: for"endwise 30 movement arr-one end'of: the columna U-bolt positionedinternally: of: the: bodmand straddling the adjacent end: of the column}said U' b'olt having end portions projecting outwardly of the body, andadjusting means on the outer ends of the U-bolt and engaging the body toadjust the body endwise with respect to the column.

5. In combination, a structural column having a vertical web portion, anadjustable hollow body mounted for endwise movement on one end of thecolumn, a U-bolt positioned internally of the-body and straddling theWeb p'ortion of the column, said U'-bolt hav'lii'gen'd' portionsprojecting outwardly of the body, and adjusting means on the outer endsof the U-bolt and engagingthe body to adjust the body endwise withrespect to the column.

6. In combination, a structural column having al'veiticalweb portion, anadjustable hollow body mountedforendwise movement on one end of thecolumn, a U-bolt positioned internally of the body and straddling theweb portion of the column, said U-bolt having end portions projec'tingoutwardly of 'tlie body, a'iid n'utS -thi'eaded onth'e outer ends o'fthe u-bo1t and;.engagm the body to adjust the body end-wlstfwith'respect t'o' tl'ie column; v

GEORGE S'I ARCEVICH; 1

References Gitcd in" the file of this patent" UNITED STATES PATENTS

